Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-12
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
what the National League Would Like
to Have Done-The Resolutions.


At the annual meeting of the National
Civil Service Reform League the commit
tee on resolutions reported in part as fol-
lows by Everett p. Wheeler, chairman;
First, the National Civil Service Reform
League, while acknowledging the many
excellent appointments made by the pres
ent administration, the frequent instances
OF executive disregard of merely partisan
demands, and conspicuous instances of
the retention of satisfactory officers dur
ing their terms, has yet learned with pro-
found regret that the changes in the civil
service is so great rs to forecast its com
plete partisan reconstruction by the close
of the administration. The league does
not believe such change to have been
required by the condition of the service
nor justified by the Intelligent public de-
sire or expectation. Holding that the
changes of inferior officers should not be
made for partisan reasons or merely for
the purpose of making places for Others
it regards the action Of the administra-
ton in this respect a5 tending to confirm
the system of abuses which the league
seeks to reform, and as furnishing mis-
chievous precedent for succeeding admin
istratiOns. Notwithstanding this action
the unprecedented prominence which the
the partisan complaints that all former
| incumbents were not dismissed at once,
on the one hand, and on the other the
| complaints by the friends of reform at the
! failures to maintain its principles as well
| as the public dissatisfaction with the UNI
fortunate results which have in many
cases followed such failures, all attest
signal progress in reform and offer the
strongest assurance of the rapid growth
of public sentiment which will heartily
sustain a resolute and consistent enforce
ment of reform principles.
Hon. Dorman b. Eaton said that while
he concurred with much that the resolu
ton said he did not think it did justice
to the efforts of the president or the ad
ministraton in the interest of reform. He
wished to record his vote against it. The
resolution was subsequently amended Il
read that the league recognizes the gooC
faith with which the president has sough
to uphold the civil service examinations :
and by inserting the word "unclassified'
before Service" in the body of the resolu
ton.
The resolution, as amended, was adopt
ed, as were also the others which wer
substantially as follows:
The second takes up the Baltimore case
and requests the Maryland association t
report the facts TO the executive committe
} of the league, so that if the facts are e.
tablished the league and association ma
ask the President TO remove the offenders
The third asks for an extension of tn
reform system to other offices.
The fourth asks for open sessions of tn
senate in acting on nominations and re
cording the reasons for the removal {
officials.
= The fifth asks for publicity in all az
pointments, removals, etc.
The sixth asks for the repeal of the fou
years tenure law, and that competenc
be the sole condition of public emplo.
} ment.
1 The seventh is series of recommend
lions to the leagues constituent organic
4 tons in regard to the conduct of the
7 work.